If what Armando said about the reason they cut Suh is correct, as much about culture as it is performance, then I think Roquan Smith is odds on favorite to be our pick at 11.
He's a great player (reminds me very much of Deion Jones with Atlanta). But he's really good in the locker room. I am not sure if they will play him at Mike or Sam.
But, he's the kind of player I think our FO is going to like...Rashaan Evans could be a pick if they trade back and still want a LB. With Suh gone, they could go after the DT from UF too, if they decide to trade back.
Anyway--of course, this could all change depending on FA and official visits, but right now I like the chance of UGA#3 in Dolphins aqua.
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I am okay with a lot of guys. One guy I really like is Minkah Fitzpatrick because our 3rd down defense was so pathetic last year. I don't think we have a chance at Fitzpatrick, but maybe we can accomplish the same thing with Smith. He's supposed to be a pretty decent cover LB.
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They won't play him at MLB. Unless something dramatic happens, he'll be the SAM or even the WLB. The thing you have to remember with Smith is that, as good as he is - and he is - Miami will have to change the way they attack in the run game if he's to be a perfect fit because as it is, he's a projection to fit the Dolphins defense. Georgia frees him up to chase, and a lot of the time he's waiting for the ballcarrier to cut and go. The Dolphins are going to want their players to attack, play off of what the linemen do in the blocking scheme, and beat their blockers to the spot. Burke would probably regard a lot of the stuff that Smith does now as just waiting around to catch blocks.
So he really isn't asked to play down hill and attack the hole much, but he is fantastic in space. Miami's biggest weakness is what their linebackers do in space. So do they nibble at their scheme or do they see a Tremaine Edmunds as a bitter fit schematically?Dummuck, dolphin25, Deerless Dice and 13 others like this. -
Avery Williamson, ILB, Titans. Age: 26.
Avery Williamson was a fifth-round pick in 2014, but he has evolved into a capable inside linebacker. He can stand to improve in coverage, but he's a dominant run-stuffer.
If this happens LB at pick 11, questionable
Would be a nice pickup, IMO
If not focused on rebuild starting with the OL...which they aren't I'm afraid..Irishman and Redwine4all like this. -
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Dummuck and Redwine4all like this.
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Boomer likes this.
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There are other high character LBs available in the first who can take on blocks and would be a much better fit for us. Namely Tremaine Edmunds. -
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Boom is exactly right, about a lot of things .... but 1 thing in particular - this team needs speed on BOTH sides of the ball!
We got some of that back at WR with our signings .... now we need more, especially on D!!
I don’t know about Mayfield, but Edmunds, Payne and James all help here ... we will have something to choose from @11 .... Vea isn’t fast, but for me it would be hard to pass him up (acknowledging he isn’t a true fit in our D) .... those are all special talents!!Surfs Up 99, Irishman, JoshPh79 and 2 others like this. -
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I'm dreading the prospect of Roquan at 11. He can't shed a block and he's only 6 feet tall. So even if he is in position to defend a pass, good luck against NFL TE's. Strictly WLB in NFL.
If Edmunds isn't available, then I'd rather drop and take Evans, if we're hell bent on a LB. Still though, these 6'3" 230+ LB's were going 2nd rd last year like Cunningham out of Vandy.
Either way we gotta add speed at the LB position.Irishman, ripper1961, Base of Gase and 2 others like this. -
I kinda doubt it. He gets washed out at the 2nd level also when reached. Play speed though in terms of once he sees it and he fires that gun is rediculous.
Wolb in our scheme id say. And I think they plan to play with Kiko. $10 mil cap hit hes a plan a something imo it’s gonna be weak. So for me Edmunds strong base nickel mike or James to offset lb range and cover ideal scenario at 11Irishman and Carmen Cygni like this. -
The analysis on Smith is a shame to hear. I'd love those traits for a Will (Alonso doesn't cut it for me vs the run nor pass), especially in Nickel, but the POA gap fill is a must for our run D.
Irishman likes this. -
In on Smith and Evans, seriously in on Griffin in the 2nd...out on Edmunds..
Edmunds is a risky pick with 11 man..Let someone else take that risk, we simply cannot afford to take a player with highly questionable instincts..
The draft is not about hitting home runs, it’s about being right more than the other guys.Irishman likes this. -
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I’m deathly afraid that if Miami misses or passes on lb at 11 that we are gonna end up plucking the Texas kid at 42. Given the way he tested that seems to be his wheelhouse. He’s a north south missile but his feel for the position is very stephone Anthony like
I’m a hard pass.
And vander esch isn’t gonna get there on upside and frame alone nor is Rashaan Evans.
Best draft asset value at lb I see is Josey jewell. His 3 cone shows off high level quickness and change of direction which helps offset his low 4.8 speed. He has good short area quickness too. His feel for the position and instincts are the best in the class again another speed offset and with that timed speed you can probably get him at 73. Dollars to donuts he has a better career than some of the lbs that will be drafted ahead of him. Comes from good stock too Iowa pumps out lbs that outplay their draft position.
But an add like that still needs range and carry cover at lb or an offset. regardless he improves the unit and is a better 2 deep option than allen at mike or anything else in the building
And I found out this last season that the only thing I hate worse than bad lb play especially at the mike is bad qb play.Last edited: Mar 16, 2018Irishman, Hiruma78, LI phinfan and 2 others like this. -
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Low 4.8s about as far as I can go with lbs. Charles Harris 4.84 shows up at the 2nd level when in pursuit on nfl tape. Unable to close. But his get off when his ears are pinned in that 10 yard box as a rusher is a plus.
For example I’m sure the Texas kid dropped a high level 10 yard cause he’s explosive on tape but it doesn’t much matter to me cause unless I’m using him as a primary blitz lb be it gap or overload the off the los lb ask part of it looks missingdjphinfan likes this. -
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Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member
I'm asking for Vita Vea right now. If I got to pick just based on my personal criteria, IE best football player I would be ecstatic with Roquan Smith. May take a couple years to develop NFL vision, but that kid plays a style that translates well to any scheme. He knows his job and he plays fast and he is proactive more than reactive. I saw him get burnt a couple times by guessing wrong, but I'd take him on my team in a minute, at any pick.
One of the two should be there I think. We win either way.ripper1961, Irishman and Redwine4all like this. -
Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member
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mbsinmisc, Irishman, hitman8 and 1 other person like this.
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I tell ya one thing vita veas tape is damn good. I didn’t look at dts earlier cause we had suh and I knew they liked their youth at the position. But with Phillips as a 1 shade it would seem to me miami needs another 3 tech.
My experience with 330 plus lb dts is to validate top 10 grades they need to run in the 4.9s via at 5.1 didn’t do that but boy is that tape good.
He looks like more than just a 2 gap plugger to me. Upfield penetrating 1 gap type talent at a whopping 340 plus lbs
As long as miami doesn’t have that other needed dt rotational piece I don’t see how via can be ruled out. However if teams can work away from ndamakung suh schematically they can work away from via too
I’d bet all the money in my wallet that he will be there at 11 too.Last edited: Mar 17, 2018Tin Indian, Irishman, Hiruma78 and 1 other person like this. -
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Agreed but we got a bunch of upfield first types on the edge and a marginal in branch. Harris and Quinn upfield wake upfield only run defender is Hayes coming off a back injury and age. And of course we got branch who i see as more a pile jumper than anything else.
That’s why I want some thump at lb behind these upfield at all cost pretty much edge rushers at de.
Edmunds behind the left side de or a poa and fill monster
What do you think of vias ideal fit for us? 3 tech 1 tech what?
It doesn’t look 2 gap which is rare for a 340 lber -
Get a a force on the 2nd level, then bring me a FS that allows our CBs to play more consistently aggressive in press, and I believe we'll have found more profound answers in rectifying our defense than adding another DT to the already somewhat strong group of Phillips, Godchaux, and Taylor who showed good potential before going down with an injury.dolphin25, Irishman, hitman8 and 1 other person like this. -
And I think we both know miami more than beat the odds at dt in terms of impact as rookies with those 2 day 3 picks last year.
Frankly though my friend I don’t think Edmunds is getting past 8 thru 10
I’d like to see miami get that dt with a veteran add. We playing with a lot of youth at a mission critical position right nowIrishman and Carmen Cygni like this. -
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The guy that's grown on me is DT Taven Bryan. I liked him all year and then he had a really good combine. If Tremaine Edmunds isn' there when we pick I would take Bryan over Vea and Payne. I think he can play the run and pass and has a better chance of racking up sacks then the other two. Plus it seems he' athletic enough where we could move him up and down the line. If we get Edmunds I would look at RJ McIntosh in the 3rd.
Last edited: Mar 18, 2018Irishman likes this. -
what separates guys like vea from payne or bryan for instance is that while they all exhibit high level 3 tech or 1 gap penetrator skill set and ability via does it at a ridiculous 340 lbs...it's more rare -
I like Smith a ton, and the comparrisons to Atlanta's Jones excite me. I would absolutely love to add a player of that type to our team, and if he and a healthy Raekwon McMillan could line up to one another for years, that would be amazing.
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Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member
I've seen every one of Vita Vea's games. He's an upgrade from Suh. Vince Wilfork Early Albert, not Fat Albert. Richard Seymour kinda good, maybe better. FOOTBALL PLAYER!!! And a good man by all reports.
dolphin25, Irishman, adamprez2003 and 1 other person like this.
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